Functional Performance of Firefighters After Exposure to Environmental Conditions and Exercise

Abstract

Context Slips, trips, and falls are leading causes of musculoskeletal injuries in firefighters. Researchers have hypothesized that heat stress is the major contributing factor to these fireground injuries. Objective To examine the effect of environmental conditions, including hot and ambient temperatures, and exercise on functional and physiological outcome measures, including balance, rectal temperature, and perceived exertion. Design Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting Laboratory environmental chamber. Patients or Other Participants A total of 13 healthy, active career firefighters (age = 26 ± 6 years [range = 19–35 years], height = 178.61 ± 4.93 cm, mass = 86.56 ± 16.13 kg). Intervention(s) Independent variables consisted of 3 conditions (exercise in heat [37.41°C], standing in heat [37.56°C], and exercise in ambient temperature [14.24°C]) and 3 data-collection times (preintervention, postintervention, and postrecovery). Each condition was separated from the others by at least 1 week and lasted a maximum of 40 minutes or until the participant reached volitional fatigue or a rectal temperature of 40.0°C. Main Outcome Measure(s) Firefighting-specific functional balance performance index, rectal temperature, and rating of perceived exertion. Results Exercise in the heat decreased functional balance, increased rectal temperature, and altered the perception of exertion compared with the other intervention conditions. Conclusions A bout of exercise in a hot, humid environment increased rectal temperature in a similar way to that reported in the physically active population and negatively affected measures of functional balance. Rather than independently affecting balance, the factors of exercise and heat stress appeared to combine, leading to an increased likelihood of slips, trips, and falls.

Working hours, sleep, and fatigue in the public safety sector: A scoping review of the research

“…There were only a few intervention studies identified and all of them involved FFs. A study of balance in FFs found that the combined effect of physical effort and heat stress led to an increased likelihood of slips, trips, and falls on the fireground 58 . A prospective study found a sleep health program resulted in significantly fewer reported injuries among FFs 110 .…”

“…A study of balance in FFs found that the combined effect of physical effort and heat stress led to an increased likelihood of slips, trips, and falls on the fireground. 58 A prospective study found a sleep health program resulted in significantly fewer reported injuries among FFs. 110 A proactive risk management program intervention among FFs reduced injuries, and workers' compensation claims and costs, but did not result in significant changes in injury rates.…”

Overexertion and heat stress in the fire service: a new conceptual framework

“…6 Heat stress is not only a hazard to the cardiovascular system, but can play a role in muscle fatigue and overexertion. 20,21 Physiological and thermoregulatory strain induced by overexertion during firefighting work can also lead to performance decrements and musculoskeletal injuries. Combining the effects of exercise and heat impairs firefighter-specific functional balance and increases the likelihood of slips, trips, and falls, which lead to musculoskeletal injuries.…”

A New Model for Optimizing Firefighter Human Performance

“…Several studies have shown that the physiological, biomechanical, and occupational demands of firefighting, along with extreme environmental exposures, all combine to affect job performance (4,9,18,29,30,48,53,59,65,66,(68)(69)(70)81). Rhea et al (65) found that firefighter job performance was significantly correlated with muscular strength, local muscular endurance, and anaerobic endurance.…”